Cigar-box opener



(No Model.) W. SGHOTT.

CIGAR BOX OPEN-ER.

No. 458,256. Pate nte d Aug. 25, 1891;

, Ewentor JZZvz-rwys.

NITED STATES IVILLIAM SCI-IOTT, CF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CIGAR-BOX OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,256, dated August 25, 1891.

Application filed September 3, 1890. Serial No. 363,827. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM SCHOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cigar-Box Openers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improvement in tools designed especially for the use of cigar dealers and adapted for cutting the labels and mutilating the stamps on cigar-boxes, and also for prying the lids open and to extract and drive the nails used for fastening the lids.

The improvement consists in a hammerhead provided with a claw for extracting the nails, a thin projecting fin, wedge, or knifeedge for prying open a lid, and a serrated boss or projection of special construction for mutilatingthe revenue-stamps on the boxes. These instrumentalities are associated in a single tool or device in a convenient, simple, and effective manner.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the toolin perspective, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the head.

A is a handle of suitable construction, to which the tool is attached. The latter consists of a head carried by a shank B, which may itself serve as the handle, or which is driven into a socket in a handle A.

In its general shape the head C may and in its present shape does resemble that of an ordinary tack-hammer, with an end D for driving nails, and the other end formed with a curved claw E for drawing them. From the upper side of the head and in line with the shank or handle projects a fin or wedge F, with a sharp edge, which is used to cut the labels and stamps on the cigar-boxes, that assist to fasten the lids down, and which is then forced in under the lids and used to pry them open.

The head C is comparatively flat and is formed with a perforation L through its central portion at right angles to the shank,into which is driven or shrunk a device G for mutilating stamps. This device consists of a small steel cylinder slightly taperedat the end which extends out from the side of the head C, forming a boss or projection, which is provided with sharp points or teeth H.

The head and shank may be of any suit-' able metal, but I prefer to use malleable or cast iron, and to temper the stamp-mutilating device or use steel therefor.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination,with the metallic hammer-head of a cigar-box opener, of a stampmutilating device consisting of a tempered or steel cylinder set in a perforation in the side of the head and formed with points or teeth at its end, as set forth.

2. A cigar-box opener, consisting of ashank or handle carrying a hammer-head provided with a claw for drawing nails and a fin or wedge for prying open a box-lid, and in combination therewith a tempered or steel cylinder setin a perforation or recess in the side of the head and formed with points or teeth atits end for mutilating stamps, as set forth.

\VILLIAM SCHOTT.

\Vitn esses:

JULIUS TWIss, PHILIP POND. 

